It’s a long time since I last saw Magnum live. I can’t remember the exact date, but it may well have been while Fish was still in Marillion. As for the first time I saw them, that was the 1980 Reading Festival. I’ve seen bands this year with some members that weren’t even born then!
For those not familiar with Magnum’s music, they’re a sort of British equivalent of American stadium rockers such as Journey and Styx (both bands I’ve seen this year). Their sound is epic and anthemic with occasional neo-classical flourishes, while lyrically they avoided the cheesy cliches those American AOR bands often tended to fall into.
The Magnum of 2007 are older and wrinklier than before, but most definitely can still cut it live. Bob Catley was in fine voice, and sang his heart out for the best part of two hours. The revelation of the night was the now hatless Tony Clarkin. Previously I’d never rated him much as virtuoso lead guitarist, but his playing has got an order of magnitude better since the last time I saw him. Now he plays not one but two extended solos, and they were both phenomenally good, just the perfect combination of technique and feel. Keyboardist Mark Stanway was, well, Mark Stanway, and the two new boys in the rhythm section Al Barrow and Harry James (on loan from Thunder) were energetic and enthusiastic thoughout.
The setlist, not far short of two hours long, was chock full of old favourites; “Vigilante”, “On a Storyteller’s Night” “All England’s Eyes”, “How Far Jerusalem”, “The Spirit”, “Sacred Hour” and “Kingdom of Madness”, plus some impressive sounding new songs from the current album “Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow”, which I’ve yet to hear. Magnum performed old and new with an energy and passion that belies their years. Long may they continue!
